A comparative study on macroscopic and nanoscale polarization mapping on large area PLD grown PZT thin films

By optimizing laser raster scanning conditions and controlling PbO evaporation, we have grown high quality large area PbZr.52Ti.48O3 (PZT) thin films using custom-built off-axis pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The realization of high quality PZT thin films over a large area with uniform polarization is a challenging task due to the formation of non-ferroelectric or pyrochlore like PbTi3O7 phases at the processing temperature (>600°C). Our results show the polycrystalline nature of the sample with a uniform chemical surface composition. The macroscopic level of polarization mapping shows excellent saturated P-E loops with a narrow variation (6%) of the remnant polarization (2Pr) across the large area thin films. A comparative study of macroscopic and nanoscale level of mapping of polarization switching are performed, to demonstrate the existence of stoichiometry ferroelectric PZT thin films over a large area. The achievement of high quality large area PZT thin films with uniform polarization might be used for under-water SONAR devices and in power harvesting.